Respiration in spiders (Araneae)

Schmitz, Anke

doi:10.1007/s00360-016-0962-8

Cited by 16 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 93 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In spiders, the resting metabolic rate is much lower compared to other animals ( Anderson, 1970 ), about half of the expected rate for other poikilotherm ( Schmitz, 2016 ). Fast movements are limited by depletion of phosphagens, accumulation of lactate and a limited aerobic metabolism ( Prestwich, 1988 ), besides a low number of mitochondrias in the muscle and the respiratory system ( Figueroa et al, 2010 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Biochemical and structural characterization of a novel arginine kinase from the spiderPolybetes pythagoricus

Laino

López-Zavala

García-Orozco

et al. 2017

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Energy buffering systems are key for homeostasis during variations in energy supply. Spiders are the most important predators for insects and therefore key in terrestrial ecosystems. From biomedical interest, spiders are important for their venoms and as a source of potent allergens, such as arginine kinase (AK, EC 2.7.3.3). AK is an enzyme crucial for energy metabolism, keeping the pool of phosphagens in invertebrates, and also an allergen for humans. In this work, we studied AK from the Argentininan spider Polybetes pythagoricus (PpAK), from its complementary DNA to the crystal structure. The PpAK cDNA from muscle was cloned, and it is comprised of 1068 nucleotides that encode a 384-amino acids protein, similar to other invertebrate AKs. The apparent Michaelis-Menten kinetic constant (Km) was 1.7 mM with a kcat of 75 s−1. Two crystal structures are presented, the apoPvAK and PpAK bound to arginine, both in the open conformation with the active site lid (residues 310–320) completely disordered. The guanidino group binding site in the apo structure appears to be organized to accept the arginine substrate. Finally, these results contribute to knowledge of mechanistic details of the function of arginine kinase.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Biochemical and structural characterization of a novel arginine kinase from the spiderPolybetes pythagoricus

Laino

López-Zavala

García-Orozco

et al. 2017

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The tracheae of spiders open through a single stigma situated medially on the ventral surface of the opisthosoma, or through stigmata emerging from the atrium of the former book lungs (Schmitz, 2013(Schmitz, , 2016. The tracheae may be simple or branched, developing a brush-like appearance, but do not anastomose (Bromhall, 1987).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many spider taxa possess both tracheae and book lungs but, in some derived taxa, book lungs have been completely replaced by tracheae (e.g., Opell, 1998). The tracheae of most spiders float freely in the hemolymph and do not reach the tissues (Foelix, 1982;Strazny and Perry, 1987;Schmitz and Perry, 2000;Schmitz, 2016). Hemocyanins function as oxygen-carrying proteins that provide the convective transport of respiratory gases from the tracheal endings to the tissues, and vice versa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology of the tracheal system of camel spiders (Chelicerata: Solifugae) based on micro-CT and 3D-reconstruction in exemplar species from three families

Franz‐Guess

Klußmann-Fricke

Wirkner

et al. 2016

Arthropod Structure & Development

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We studied the tracheal system of exemplar species representing three families of Solifugae Sundevall, 1833, i.e., Galeodes granti Pocock, 1903, Ammotrechula wasbaueri Muma, 1962 and Eremobates sp., using µCT-imaging and 3D-reconstruction. This is the first comparative study of the tracheal system of Solifugae in 85 years and the first using high-resolution nondestructive methods. The tracheal system was found to be structurally similar in all three species, with broad major tracheae predominantly in the prosoma as well as anastomoses (i.e., connections between tracheal branches from different stigmata) in the prosoma and opisthosoma. Differences among the three species were observed in the presence or absence of cheliceral air sacs, the number of tracheae supplying the heart, and the ramification of major tracheae in the opisthosoma. The structure of the tracheal system with its extensive branches and some anastomoses is assumed to aid rapid and efficient gas exchange in the respiratory tissues of these active predators. The large diameter of cheliceral tracheae (air sacs) of taxa with disproportionally heavier chelicerae suggests a role in weight reduction, enabling solifuges to reach greater speeds during predation. The air sacs may also permit more rapid and efficient gaseous exchange, necessary to operate the musculature of these structures, thereby improving their use for predation in an environment where prey is scarce.

show abstract

“…However, in both Devito and Formanowicz (2003) and the present study, spiders were kept in enclosures that allowed for limited activity. Spiders are able to close their respiratory spiracles in response to changes in activity (see review by Schmitz 2016). Inactive spiders tend to keep their spiracles closed (Finke and Paul 1989) and so it is unlikely that any differences in metabolic rates played a role in the disparity of responses to water loss seen here.…”

Section: R a F Tmentioning

confidence: 89%

Dehydration resistance and tolerance in the brush-legged wolf spider (Schizocosaocreata): a comparison of survivorship, critical body water content, and water-loss rates between sexes

Herrmann

Roberts

2017

Can. J. Zool.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Small-bodied terrestrial animals like spiders face challenges maintaining water reserves essential for homeostasis. They may experience dry microclimates and (or) seasonal variation in water availability, so dehydration is a common stressor that may help explain movement, foraging, and other behaviors. This study examines aspects of dehydration resistance and tolerance in the brush-legged wolf spider, Schizocosa ocreata (Hentz, 1844) (Araneae: Lycosidae), commonly found in the leaf litter of eastern deciduous forests of North America. Sexes differ in morphology, physiology, reproductive strategy, and life history, likely resulting in divergent abilities to resist and tolerate dehydration. We used humidity-controlled chambers to examine relative survivorship by sex under varying humidity regimes, water-loss rates, body water content, and critical water mass. Spiders survived significantly longer in higher humidity regimes (≥50% RH). Females had significantly better survivorship overall, lower body-loss rates, and lower critical mass, though males had greater percent body water content, indicating that females have greater dehydration resistance and tolerance than males. Although sex-based differences in survival time and water-loss rates are likely an effect of relative body mass, females should be more successful than males during periods of episodic drought and are likely selected to survive later in the season while caring for offspring.

show abstract

Respiration in spiders (Araneae)

Cited by 16 publications

References 93 publications

Biochemical and structural characterization of a novel arginine kinase from the spiderPolybetes pythagoricus

Biochemical and structural characterization of a novel arginine kinase from the spiderPolybetes pythagoricus

Morphology of the tracheal system of camel spiders (Chelicerata: Solifugae) based on micro-CT and 3D-reconstruction in exemplar species from three families

Dehydration resistance and tolerance in the brush-legged wolf spider (Schizocosaocreata): a comparison of survivorship, critical body water content, and water-loss rates between sexes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About